MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has allowed convicted businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles to attend the trial of her multiple criminal cases at the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan despite her commitment at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City following her conviction on plunder in connection with the pork barrel scam.

Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin told reporters yesterday that the SC has granted the request of the Sandiganbayan to allow Napoles to leave the CIW to attend the hearings at the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City.

Bersamin said the SC will release a copy of its formal resolution on the matter next week.

“We really realized that there is a need for granting the request because it will be counter productive if we did not,” Bersamin said.

Last Tuesday, the Sandiganbayan Third Division deferred the scheduled start of the trial of the plunder case against former senator Juan Ponce Enrile following the absence of his co-accused Napoles.

Enrile is among the former lawmakers facing cases at the Sandiganbayan in connection with the alleged misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel.

Third Division clerk of court Dennis Pulma last Tuesday said that it has yet to secure authority from the SC to have Napoles transported to the Sandiganbayan from the CIW.

Pulma explained that a prisoner committed to a national penitentiary following his or her conviction may not be transported outside without express authority from the SC.

Napoles was convicted of plunder by the Sandiganbayan First Division in December last year in connection with the misuse of the PDAF of former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.

Bersamin said that the SC can make exceptions to the rules on the detention of convicted prisoners if the situation calls for it.

“These rules are very rigid supposed to be, but then we make exceptions when the circumstances demand the exception. And this one clearly demands an exception,” Bersamin said.

When US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited last week, he made assurances his country would come to the Philippines’ defense in the event of an armed attack on our vessels and aircraft in the South China Sea.

President Duterte and visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad emphasized yesterday the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea in maintaining peace and progress in the region, which is grappling with territorial disputes as well as China’s muscle-flexing.